Systems and apparatuses for high performance atmosphere thin film piezoelectric resonant plasmas to modulate air flows

ABSTRACT

Systems and apparatuses for applying a plasma actuator system for reducing aerodynamic drag of a vehicle by discharging plasma is provided. The system includes: at least one pair of thin films configured to integrate into a pair of electrodes wherein each of the thin films of the pair of thin films is composed of a thin film piezo-electric material; a dielectric configured as an insulator region to separate each electrode integrated with the thin film piezo-electric material; and a power supply to deliver alternating current to each electrode to provide a high voltage output obtained by the thin film piezo-electric material integrated with the pair of electrodes wherein the high voltage output is about 10 kV.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field generally relates to transportation vehicles such asautomobiles and, more specifically, use of a plasma configurationintegrated with a piezoelectric resonator for generating jet flowsaround a vehicle to reduce aerodynamic drag.

INTRODUCTION

Regulatory agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation's National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issue national standards whichrequire improvements in fuel efficiency for vehicles in order to cutcarbon pollutions. To meet these national standards, factors affectingfuel economy are considered in vehicle design including aerodynamicdrag. That is, reductions in aerodynamic drag have a significant effectin enhancing fuel efficiency as well as achieving other desired goalsincluding consumer savings realized by reduced fuel consumptions whenoperating a vehicle.

Accordingly, it is desirable to generate air flow around a vehicle toreduce aerodynamic drag using a high voltage piezoelectric transformerwith a thin film piezo electric material and insulator integratedtogether which achieves an output in the vicinity of 10 KV at a lowpower consumption. Furthermore, other desirable features andcharacteristics of the present invention will become apparent from thesubsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technicalfield and background.

SUMMARY

A system and apparatus in a vehicle for reducing aerodynamic drag of thevehicle is disclosed.

In one embodiment, a plasma actuator system for reducing aerodynamicdrag of a vehicle by discharging plasma is disclosed. The systemincludes: at least one pair of thin films configured to integrate into apair of electrodes wherein each of the thin films of the pair of thinfilms is composed of a thin film piezo-electric material; a dielectricconfigured as an insulator region to separate each electrode integratedwith the thin film piezo-electric material; and a power supplyconfigured to deliver alternating current to each electrode to provide ahigh voltage output obtained by the thin film piezo-electric materialintegrated with the pair of electrodes wherein the high voltage outputis about 10 kilovolts.

The thin films include: metal nitrides, metal oxides, mixed metaloxides, metal oxynitrides and mixtures thereof. The thin films areaffixed to the surface of each electrode of the pair of electrodes. Thepower supply delivers, from an input alternating current voltage of 5 Vand at a resonant frequency of 60 to 70 kHz, an output voltage of 10 KV.Each electrode of the pair of electrodes is offset or overlaps theother. The plasma discharged is a cold plasma. The dielectric materialseparating the electrode pair is embedded with thin film material and atleast one electrode of the electrode pair. The plasma actuator system isconfigured in segments as a thin filmed piezo-transformer with thin filmactuators. The system, further including: modulating power of the powersupply to the segments of the piezoelectric transformer and the thinfilm actuators to control the drag over the vehicle.

In another embodiment, a plasma actuator apparatus for mitigatingadverse aerodynamic affects experienced by a vehicle is disclosed. Theplasma actuator apparatus includes: a first layer composed of dielectricmaterial; a second layer including: a first and a second electroderesiding on the first layer wherein the first electrode has a surfacearea which is completely covered by the dielectric material of the firstlayer, and the second electrode has a surface area which is uncovered bythe dielectric material of the first layer; and a third layer of thinfilm material including: a piezo-electric material with a thickness in a2 nm to 2 μm range wherein the third layer is integrated onto both thecovered and uncovered surface areas of the first and second electrodes;and a power supply providing a voltage across the first and secondelectrodes to generate, via the piezo-electric material of the thirdlayer, a cold plasma output. The piezo-electric material includes: metaloxide material. The power supply delivers, from an input alternatingcurrent voltage of 5 V and at a resonant frequency of 60 kHz to 70 kHz,an output voltage of 10 KV. The first electrode is offset from thesecond electrode. The first electrode overlaps the second electrode. Theapparatus, further including: a left positioned plasma actuatorconfigured in a flat design in segments enabling the left positionedplasma actuator to be flush with a surface of the vehicle on the leftlateral side to mitigate adverse air flow affects thereby controllingdrag over the vehicle wherein the left positioned plasma actuator is athin filmed actuator. The apparatus, further including: a rightpositioned plasma actuator configured in a flat design in segmentsenabling the right positioned plasma actuator to be flush with a surfaceof the vehicle on the right lateral side to mitigate adverse air flowaffects thereby controlling drag over the vehicle wherein the rightpositioned plasma actuator is a thin filmed actuator.

In yet another embodiment, a plasma actuator system including a thinfilm piezo transformer with thin filmed actuators in segments forcontrolling drag of a vehicle is disclosed. The plasma actuator systemincludes: at least one pair of thin film plasma actuators configured insegments including: a left positioned thin film plasma actuatorconfigured in a flat design enabling the left positioned thin filmplasma actuator to be flush with a surface of the vehicle on the leftlateral side to mitigate adverse air flow affects; and a rightpositioned thin film plasma actuator configured in a flat designenabling the right positioned thin film actuator to be flush with asurface of the vehicle on the right lateral side to mitigate adverse airflow affects; wherein at least one pair of thin films is configured tointegrate into a pair of electrodes to form the thin film piezotransformer and to enable segment by segment modulation of the thin filmplasma actuators to control vehicle drag wherein the thin film piezoelectric transformer is coupled to the left and right positioned thinfilm plasma actuators to enable the flat design wherein each of the thinfilms of the pair of thin films is composed of a thin filmpiezo-electric material.

The thin films include: metal nitrides, metal oxides, mixed metaloxides, metal oxynitrides and mixtures thereof. The thin films areaffixed to the surface of each electrode of the pair of electrodes. Theplasma actuator system, further including: a pair of power suppliescoupled to the left and right positioned plasma actuators respectivelydelivers, from an input alternating current voltage of 5 V and at aresonant frequency of 60 kHz to 70 kHz, an output voltage of 10 KVwherein each electrode of the pair of electrodes is offset or overlapsthe other wherein the left and right positioned thin film plasmaactuators discharge cold plasma.

This summary is provided to describe select concepts in a simplifiedform that are further described in the Detailed Description.

This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features ofthe claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the systemand method will become apparent from the subsequent detailed descriptionand the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings and the preceding background.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exemplary embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunctionwith the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cross section view of a plasmaactuator, in accordance with an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a plasma actuator, in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of flow control, in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a vehicle equipped with plasma actuators,in accordance with an embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a vehicle equipped with plasma actuators,in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is nointention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented inthe preceding technical field, background, summary, or the followingdetailed description.

While the features of the technology are described primarily inconnection with automobiles, the features described by the disclosureare not limited to just automobiles. The described features have broadapplicability to different moving objects experiencing air flow drag;for example, have applicability to aircrafts, trucks, trailers,construction equipment, and trains etc. In addition, in particularcases, the features described may also have applicability to stationaryor static objects as well experiencing air flow effects.

The subject matter described herein discloses apparatus, systems,techniques and articles for applying a plasma configuration designintegrated with piezoelectric resonator that produces a substantialcontrol authority by generating robust jet flows around a vehicle toreduce aerodynamic drag. The plasma configuration design provides a verycompact plasma actuator system.

By optimizing the plasma actuator performance, aerodynamic performanceis improved. The optimization is influenced by a several factors orvariables that result in better plasma distribution and intensity andinclude improvements in the following areas: voltage waveform, voltageamplitude, frequency, electrode configurations, background gas,dielectric material, dielectric thickness and dielectric temperature.The optimization of the plasma actuator realizes results from thesupplied signal based on a geometry of the electrodes.

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides improved fueleconomy, reductions of emissions and carbon dioxide footprint by lowaerodynamic drag of the vehicle. The plasma field generated is adjacentand flush to the surface of the vehicle as the plasma actuator system isconfigured in a highly compact structure. A high voltage piezoelectrictransformer simplifies the power supply of a conventional Dc to Dcconvertor and enables an output of 10 KV or higher by use of a thin filmPiezo electric material and insulator integrated together while allowingfor a low Power consumption. The high voltage piezoelectric transformeroperates at a resonant frequency of a 5 V/˜60 kHz AC input to apiezoelectric source generated ˜10 KV AC output.

In various embodiments, the piezoelectric resonators can be composed ofa thin film material which provides for a more compact transformerstructure than regular or conventional transformer structures. Forexample, a regular or conventional transformer structure requires one ortwo coils with a certain geometric size and shape whereas piezoelectricresonators can be configured in a flat, rod shaped, cubical, sphericalor any desired or preferred design. Thin film materials provide foradditional flexibility for a variety of design configurations of theplasma actuator system.

The piezoelectric resonators are configurable and may be segmented andadaptable to a variety of design and applications. The efficiency isimproved by better power transfer. That is, the power transfer is betterwith piezoelectric as the position of the piezoelectric is “close-by” tothe actuator for minimum/no losses than the positioning in a currenttransformer which would have an associated resultant loss.

The present disclosure describes using a solid-state coupling for powertransfer which is more efficient than a transformer which uses theconventional inductive coupling. This is because the solid statecoupling enables a power transfer without as much loss and therefore hasa better power efficiency.

The present disclosure enables a lower cost design by incorporating athin-film design in the plasma actuators which also enables moreconfigurability in short segments as well as a scaling up whenimplementing which in turns results in cost reductions duringmanufacturing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a plasma actuator for reducing drag offluid flow, air flow as described in the present disclosure. The plasmaactuator 100 creates an electric field high enough to cause the electricbreakdown of ambient air atoms in the vicinity to cause to dissociatethe air atoms into moving ions and electrons.

The first electrode 10 and the second electrode 14 are connected to apower source 20 via two separate connectors. A thin film 11 is affixedand integrated on the first electrode 10 and a thin film 13 is alsointegrated and affixed to the second electrode 14. While the powersource 20 can be configured to deliver any of a wide variety of poweroutputs in various embodiments, herein the power source 20 is configuredto deliver a 10 kV rms. The power source 20 is an AC source. The plasmaactuator 100 connected to AC power source 20 generate a larger bodyforce at a much lower voltage compared to the AC plasma actuators. In anexemplary embodiment, the power consumption of the pulsed DC plasmaactuator with 40 inches long electrode is approximately 1 kW which isabout 100 times less than the AC plasma actuators. As the air flow 16flows over the plasma actuator when the first electrode 10 and thesecond electrode 14 are energized with the thin films by the powersource 20, the air flow 16 is ionized by the first electrode 10 and thesecond electrode 14, thus creating a plasma region 22, extending from anedge of the first electrode 10. In an exemplary embodiment, thethickness of the electrode, measured from the top to the bottom in FIG.1, is about 0.1 mm approximately, the thickness of the dielectric layer,measured from the top to the bottom in FIG. 1, varies from about 0.1 mmto about 6 mm depending on the magnitude of the voltage of the powersource. The dielectric layer is in various embodiments configured with athickness sufficient to prevent a short between the two electrodes 10,14. The width of the electrode, measured from one side to another sidein FIG. 1, is about 25 mm.

The plasma actuator 100 creates the electric field with a firstelectrode 10 covered by a thin film 11 which covers the exposed area ofthe first electrode 10. The exposed area of the first electrode 10 facesthe air flow 16 and generates the electric field. Next, a secondelectrode 14 is embedded in a dielectric 12 with a thin film 13 coveringat least a surface of the second electrode 14 facing in part the airflow 16, and the second electrode 14 of the plasma actuator rests on asubstrate 18. The second electrode 14 can extend to a bottom of thedielectric 12, and contact the substrate 18, as shown in FIG. 1. Thesubstrate 18, and any other part or parts plasma actuator, can beflexible, such as for being shaped to match dimensions of a targetvehicle components. The thin films 11 and 13 may cover part of or all ofthe respective electrodes. The first electrode 10 and the secondelectrode 14 can be configured in a variety of shapes or forms as longas the electric field created is strong enough. The first electrode 10and the second electrode 14 form a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)were as shown in FIG. 1, the first electrode 10 and the second electrode14 are configured as two flat electrodes where one may be longer thanthe other and are separated by an insulating dielectric layer of thedielectric 12. This configuration may be referred to as a plasmaactuator 100. The plasma actuator 100 is embedded within a surface,leaving only one exposed electrode, the first electrode 10. By applyingan alternative high voltage between the first electrode 10 and thesecond electrode 14, a plasma can be sustained.

In various embodiments, the plasma may be sustained for a longer periodwith the addition of the thin films 11 and 13. Since the actuator forceis a direct result of the electric field in the plasma in regions wherethere is a net charge density. The force on the plasma is transferred tothe neutral background gas through collisions between the ions and theneutral molecules.

In an exemplary embodiment, the electric field is represented by thefunction E(x, t) between the first electrode 10 and the second electrode14 with a constant charge density q(x). The strength of the force isthen assumed to decrease linearly from a maximum at the edge of theexposed electrode, so that f(x)=(f(0)−k₁X−k₂Y) where K₁ and K₂ are twoconstants defining how fast the strength of the force decreases from theactuator.

The thin films may consist of though not limited to mixtures of aluminumnitride, titanium dioxides, zinc oxides, aluminum oxides, aluminum oxynitride, titanium oxynitride, bismuth iron oxides, copper oxides, mixmetal oxide with titanium, iron, zinc, barium, zirconium, hafnium,silicon, potassium, barium etc. and other metallic combinations andmixtures thereof. The metals and compounds may be commercially availableor can be prepared by empirical testing.

The film material is a material stack of about 5 to 7 layers whichinclude a combination of a flexible and a rigid material to enable asubstantial deformation in structure when transferring an output highvoltage of 10 KV or higher. Additionally, ceramic material like analuminum nitride (AlN) which exhibits a high thermal conductivity yet isconsidered a uniquely strong dielectric can be stacked with carbon orother material including piezopolymers depending on the output needed.The modulus (i.e. measurement of elasticity) of film and thecorresponding bendable properties like a compressible spring structuremay be used in the stacking. That is, thin film material can be designedsimilarly with material of choice in stacks of a thickness of up to 20nm to 5 micrometers. Also, thinner layers of material may be used thatare better in instances when more layers of thin film material arerequired or needed. The thin film enables a higher frequency of piezocrystals to be used.

The thin film can be deposited by ion beam assisted sputtering processesand other ion assisted deposition methodologies customarily used. Othermanufacturing methods like or including: radio frequency (RF) magnetronsputtering, pulsed DC sputtering, pulsed laser deposition, atomic layerdeposition (ALD) etc. can also be used instead. Layer thickness 2-10 nmwould be most preferred layer thickness with total stack thickness of<50 nm for a nanoscale piezoelectric device. This type of configurationof thin film stack would be there. The voltage gain would be the lengthmultiplied by layers divided by thickness of layers and the constant.The voltage gain is expressed as follows:

${V_{gain} = {\frac{\text{(length)(Layers)}}{\text{Thickness}} \times g}},$where: g is a material coefficient of thickness.

Also, rationale for operating in an alternative way rather than in adirect way include a lower breakdown voltage requirement and the lack ofa strong continuous current that would lead to higher power consumptionand electrode corrosion. The size of the electrodes is typically of theorder of 1 to 10 centimeter for flow actuation purposes, and the voltageused is in the range of 10 kV at an alternative frequency ofapproximately 70 kHz. The thin films are in a thickness of a range of 2nm to 10 nm.

In various embodiments, a leading edge of the first electrode 10 isspaced (laterally in the view of FIG. 1) from a leading edge of thedielectric 12. The momentum generated by the force is directed from theexposed electrode to the embedded one, even though an alternativevoltage is applied. This is caused by the asymmetry between the twoelectrodes. As a result, the actuator can be utilized to create adownstream jet-stream from the exposed electrode for the directionalflow required.

In various embodiments, a leading edge of the second electrode 14 isbelow or adjacent to a trailing edge (in the direction of the air flow16) of the first electrode 10, in a direction of the air flow 16 inoperation. The electrodes are in some implementations positioned so thatthey at least partially overlap (in a vertical direction of the view ofFIG. 1, and in others so that they do not overlap at all.

FIG. 2 illustrates another schematic of the plasma actuator 200 of thepresent embodiment in accordance with the disclosure. FIG. 2 shows thepiezo electric discharge system and is illustrated in conjunction withelements of FIG. 1 of a first electrode 10 disposed above a dielectriclayer 24 and has a surface area which is uncovered and exposed to theair flow 16 and a second electrode 14 disposed at least partially withina substrate 18. The substrate 18 may be smaller than the dielectriclayer 24. The first electrode 10 and the second electrode 14 areconnected to the power source 210 which is an AC power source of 5 Voscillating at a frequency of 60 kHz. An amplifier 220 increases thevoltage to 50 V prior to the step-up transformer 230. The step-uptransformer 230 steps up the voltage to 10 KV with the piezo-electricresonator. The electric field is created next to or adjacent to theinsulator 240 and the ionized ions are found in the plasma 250. Similarto what has been described for FIG. 1; in FIG. 2, as the air flow 16flows over the first electrode 10 and the electrodes with the thin filmsare energized, the air is ionized and forms a plasma 250 after of thetrailing edge of the first electrode 10. The plasma injects energy intothe boundary layer of the air flow, thus delaying the flow separation.

FIG. 3 illustrates the air flow over the electrodes. As the air flow 316flows over the thin film material 311 on top of the first electrode 310and the electrodes are energized with the thin film material 311, theair is ionized and forms a plasma region 322 at the trailing edge of thefirst electrode 310. The plasma injects energy into the boundary layerof the air flow delaying the flow separation. Piezoelectric dischargeplasma is a cold plasma air discharge of a high voltage piezoelectrictransformer. The output of 10 KV obtained and the thin film Piezoelectric material and insulator integrated together. The output of 10 KVor more can be obtained with a thin film piezo electric material andinsulator integrated together while requiring only a low powerconsumption. The second electrode 314 is integrated with the thin film315 and is disposed within the substrate 318. The first electrode 310and the second electrode 314 are connected to the power supply 320. Therelatively high voltage required is generated by a solid-state couplingfor power transfer which is more efficient than a transformer which usesthe inductive coupling. Solid state transfer will have better powerefficiency.

FIG. 4 illustrates an automobile body with plasma actuators placed ondifferent surfaces. The plasma actuator is configured in a flat designenabling the positioned plasma actuator to be flush with a surface of avehicle on a lateral side to mitigate adverse air flow affects. As afirst example, the plasma actuator can be placed on flush A-pillars 440to reduce any vortex generally present around the A-pillars 440. Theplasma actuator can be positioned, more particularly, on or flush toeach A-pillar, such as by being positioned slightly fore or aft of thepillar. The plasma actuator can be configured to extend along any ofvarious lengths of the pillar, including along substantially all, or anentirety, of the pillar, as shown in FIG. 4. The plasma actuator is invarious embodiments curved and/or otherwise shaped to match dimensionsof the pillar, and/or the plasma actuator includes materials (some orall) sufficient to render the plasma actuator flexible enough to beshaped to (e.g., bend with bend of the pillar) for a more flush fit. Aplasma actuator according to the present technology can be used at anyof the vehicle pillars, such as at any one or more of the B-pillars andC-pillars.

A plasma actuator can also be placed around the front fender skirt 442to control front tire flow separation and to reduce the front tire wake.The plasma actuator can be positioned at or adjacent the skirt, andalong any length thereof. And again, the plasma actuator is in variousembodiments curved and/or otherwise shaped to match dimensions of theskirt, and/or the plasma actuator includes materials (some or all)sufficient to render the plasma actuator flexible enough to be shaped to(e.g., bend with a bend of the skirt) for a flush fit. The plasmaactuator can be in such cases to be positioned around the correspondingvehicle component—e.g., around the skirt.

A plasma actuator can further be placed at or adjacent the rear fender444 (e.g., a leading edge of the rear fender), and/or a plasma actuatorcan also be positioned at or adjacent the rear fender tail edge 446 tocontrol separation of the rear flow boundary layer and the resultingwake region. Again, the plasma actuator can be positioned at or adjacentthe rear fender or rear-fender tail edge, and along any lengths thereof.And again, the plasma actuator is in various embodiments curved and/orotherwise shaped to match dimensions of the fender or edge, and/or theplasma actuator includes materials (some or all) sufficient to renderthe plasma actuator flexible enough to be shaped to the render orrear-fender tail edge (e.g., bend with a bend of the rear fender orrear-fender tail edge) for a flush fit. Plasma actuators can be in suchcases to be positioned around the corresponding vehicle component—e.g.,around the rear fender or the rear-fender tail edge.

The plasma actuator can be placed in many other places on the body of anautomobile where air disturbance may be present. For example, FIG. 5illustrates example locations on exposed vehicle surface(s) under thechassis of an automobile where the plasma actuator can be placed. Theplasma actuator can be placed under the front air dam 550, around theunderbody strakes 552, 554, 556. By placing the plasma actuators onthese locations under the chassis, the air disturbance can be reducedand consequently the drag reduced.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be described herein in termsof functional and/or logical block components and various processingsteps. It should be appreciated that such block components may berealized by any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware componentsconfigured to perform the specified functions. For example, anembodiment of the present disclosure may employ various integratedcircuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processingelements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carryout a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled inthe art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure maybe practiced in conjunction with any number of systems, and that thesystems described herein is merely exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

In this document, relational terms such as first and second, and thelike may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from anotherentity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actualsuch relationship or order between such entities or actions. Numericalordinals such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. simply denotedifferent singles of a plurality and do not imply any order or sequenceunless specifically defined by the claim language. The sequence of thetext in any of the claims does not imply that process steps must beperformed in a temporal or logical order according to such sequenceunless it is specifically defined by the language of the claim. Theprocess steps may be interchanged in any order without departing fromthe scope of the invention as long as such an interchange does notcontradict the claim language and is not logically nonsensical.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vastnumber of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that theexemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and arenot intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of thedisclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description willprovide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map forimplementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. Itshould be understood that various changes can be made in the functionand arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of thedisclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plasma actuator system for reducing aerodynamicdrag of a vehicle by discharging plasma, the system comprising: at leastone pair of thin films configured to integrate into a pair of electrodeswherein each of the thin films of the pair of thin films is composed ofa thin film piezo-electric material; a dielectric configured as aninsulator region to separate each electrode integrated with the thinfilm piezo-electric material; and a power supply configured to deliveralternating current to each electrode to provide a high voltage outputobtained by the thin film piezo-electric material integrated with thepair of electrodes wherein the high voltage output is about 10kilovolts.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the thin films comprise:metal nitrides, metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metal oxynitrides andmixtures thereof.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the thin films areaffixed to the surface of each electrode of the pair of electrodes. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply delivers, from an inputalternating current voltage of 5 V and at a resonant frequency of 60 to70 kHz, an output voltage of 10 KV.
 5. The system of claim 1, whereineach electrode of the pair of electrodes is offset or overlaps theother.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plasma discharged is a coldplasma.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the dielectric materialseparating the electrode pair is embedded with thin film material and atleast one electrode of the electrode pair.
 8. The system of claim 1,further comprising: modulating power of the power supply to the segmentsof the piezoelectric transformer and the thin film actuators to controlthe drag over the vehicle.
 9. A plasma actuator system for mitigatingadverse aerodynamic affects experienced by a vehicle, the plasmaactuator system comprising: a first layer composed of dielectricmaterial; a second layer comprising: a first and a second electroderesiding on the first layer wherein the first electrode has a surfacearea which is completely covered by the dielectric material of the firstlayer, and the second electrode has a surface area which is uncovered bythe dielectric material of the first layer; and a third layer of thinfilm material comprising: a piezo-electric material with a thickness ina 2 nm to 2 m range wherein the third layer is integrated onto both thecovered and uncovered surface areas of the first and second electrodes;and a power supply providing a voltage across the first and secondelectrodes to generate, via the piezo-electric material of the thirdlayer, a cold plasma output.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein thepiezo-electric material comprises: metal nitrides, metal oxides, mixedmetal oxides, metal oxynitrides and mixtures thereof.
 11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the power supply delivers, from an input alternatingcurrent voltage of 5 V and at a resonant frequency of 60 kHz to 70 kHz,an output voltage of 10 KV.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the firstelectrode is offset from the second electrode.
 13. The system of claim9, wherein the first electrode overlaps the second electrode.
 14. Thesystem of claim 9, further comprising: a left positioned plasma actuatorconfigured in a flat design in segments enabling the left positionedplasma actuator to be flush with a surface of the vehicle on the leftlateral side to mitigate adverse air flow affects thereby controllingdrag over the vehicle wherein the left positioned plasma actuator is athin filmed actuator.
 15. The system of claim 9, further comprising: aright positioned plasma actuator configured in a flat design in segmentsenabling the right positioned plasma actuator to be flush with a surfaceof the vehicle on the right lateral side to mitigate adverse air flowaffects thereby controlling drag over the vehicle wherein the rightpositioned plasma actuator is a thin filmed actuator.